Question 1

Biomes with less than 10 cm 4 inches)of rain a year are ___________.
A)high in primary productivity
B)dominated by coniferous trees
C)likely to have extremely cold winters
D)generally classified as deserts

Accepted Answer

Biomes with less than 10 cm (4 inches) of rain a year are generally classified as deserts, which are characterized by low precipitation and high temperatures.

Question 2

You are in a low- elevation area that receives an average of 51 cm 20 inches of precipitation per year,with temperatures that are much colder in winter than summer.Which one of the following biomes are you most likely to be in?
A)Subtropical moist broadleaf forest
B)Temperate grassland
C)Desert
D)Mediterranean forests,woodlands,and scrublands

Accepted Answer

The description matches that of a temperate grassland biome. These biomes typically receive 25-75 cm (10-30 inches) of precipitation per year and have cold winters and hot summers.

Question 3

Primary productivity in nontropical terrestrial environments is typically limited by what nutrient?
A)K
B)P
C)N
D)Fe

Accepted Answer

Nitrogen is the limiting nutrient for primary productivity in nontropical terrestrial environments. It is often present in low amounts in the soil and is needed for the production of chlorophyll, which is necessary for photosynthesis. Nitrogen can become limiting as it is rapidly used up by plants and cannot be effectively replaced through atmospheric deposition alone.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes von Liebig's "law of the minimum"?
A)A plant will grow at a rate limited by the nutrient in lowest supply relative to the needs of the plant.
B)A plant cannot grow at temperatures below its lower tolerance limit.
C)A plant's reproduction is limited by the minimum height of the plant.
D)A plant will grow best when levels of herbivory are as low as possible.

Accepted Answer

Von Liebig's "law of the minimum" states that a plant will grow at a rate limited by the nutrient in lowest supply relative to the needs of the plant. This means that even if all other nutrients are abundant, the plant's growth will be limited by the availability of the nutrient in lowest supply.

Question 5

Describe the distinction between macronutrients and micronutrients.Give several examples of each,and describe their importance.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the distinction between macronutrients and micronutrients.Give...

Question 6

The goods and services that ecosystems provide to humanity are known as ecosystem services.Identify and explain the four categories of ecosystem services,and describe an example of each.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The goods and services that ecosystems provide...

Question 7

From largest to smallest,the soil particle sizes are___________ .
A)silt,sand,and clay
B)clay,sand,and silt
C)sand,silt,and clay
D)sand,clay,and silt

Accepted Answer

Soil particle sizes, from largest to smallest, are sand, silt, and clay. Therefore, option C is the correct order.

Question 8

Most plants acquire their minerals from_________ .
A)fertilizers
B)detritus and the weathering of rock
C)the precipitation of minerals from rainfall
D)nutrients in rainfall and dust storms that transport minerals into a region

Accepted Answer

Plants acquire their minerals from the nutrients released by the decomposers that break down detritus and the minerals that are released when rocks weather. While fertilizers can provide nutrients, they are not the primary source of minerals for most plants. Precipitation can also contribute to mineral availability, but it is not the main source for most plants. Dust storms can transport minerals into a region, but this is not a primary mechanism for long-term nutrient acquisition by plants.

Question 9

As the sugars are broken down in the cells of living creatures,the energy returns to the atmosphere through the process of_____________ .
A)photosynthesis
B)transpiration
C)respiration
D)evapotranspiration

Accepted Answer

Respiration is the process by which living organisms break down sugars to release energy, and this energy is ultimately returned to the atmosphere through the process of respiration. Photosynthesis and transpiration are processes by which plants produce energy and release water vapor, respectively, while evapotranspiration is the combined process of evaporation and transpiration in plants.

Question 10

Many ecosystems are damaged by attempts to make a quick profit because __________.
A)the value of ecosystem services is underappreciated
B)ecosystem services require sustained human development
C)the prices of most natural goods continue to fall
D)natural services are valued more than natural goods

Accepted Answer

When attempting to make a quick profit, the value of ecosystem services is often underappreciated. Ecosystem services, such as clean air and water, pollination, and carbon storage, provide immense economic value but are often seen as free goods. This leads to unsustainable exploitation of natural resources and damage to ecosystems.

Question 11

-Tropical savannas tend to be _______________than tropical dry forests.
A)drier and colder
B)wetter
C)wetter and colder
D)drier

Accepted Answer

Tropical savannas tend to have less precipitation than tropical dry forests, making them drier.

Question 12

Which one of the following processes would directly increase the amount of nutrients available to plants?
A)Primary production
B)Photosynthesis
C)Respiration
D)Mineralization

Accepted Answer

Mineralization is the process by which organic matter is broken down into inorganic nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur by decomposers such as bacteria and fungi. This increases the amount of nutrients available in the soil for uptake by plants. Primary production, photosynthesis, and respiration all relate to the cycling of carbon and energy in ecosystems, but do not directly increase nutrient availability to plants.

Quiz 6: Ecosystems and Biomes

Biomes with less than 10 cm 4 inches) of rain a year are ___________.

You are in a low- elevation area that receives an average of 51 cm 20 inches of precipitation per year,with temperatures that are much colder in winter than summer.Which one of the following biomes are you most likely to be in?

Primary productivity in nontropical terrestrial environments is typically limited by what nutrient?

Which of the following best describes von Liebig's "law of the minimum"?

Describe the distinction between macronutrients and micronutrients.Give several examples of each,and describe their importance.

The goods and services that ecosystems provide to humanity are known as ecosystem services.Identify and explain the four categories of ecosystem services,and describe an example of each.

From largest to smallest,the soil particle sizes are___________ .

Most plants acquire their minerals from_________ .

As the sugars are broken down in the cells of living creatures,the energy returns to the atmosphere through the process of_____________ .

Many ecosystems are damaged by attempts to make a quick profit because __________.

-Tropical savannas tend to be _______________than tropical dry forests.

Which one of the following processes would directly increase the amount of nutrients available to plants?